And it was
not until the latter had talked to her soothingly and cheerfully for
several minutes, that she began to perceive the real state of affairs.
And then the re-action from the depths of despair was like the
infusion of new life and strength to the sick woman. She cried and
sobbed as though her heart would break for several minutes, which
excitement ended in a spasm.
Most women would have been terrified at such a scene as was at this
moment presented to Miss Arnold. But she was not a mere fancy
nurse. Far from it. Up went her sleeves, and for the next two hours
she worked with her four patients like a Trojan, first with the
mother, and next with the children. Her next care was to separate the
living from the dead. The child she wrapped up in a small sheet quite
neatly, and for the father she performed the same sad task, using a
coverlet, so that when about three o'clock the dead wagon came around
with the coffins, both bodies were decently prepared for interment.
"'Bout what time d'ye think I better git back fur t'others, nurse?"
inquired the driver of the wagon, consulting a small pass-book that he
carried in his side coat pocket.
Agnes was horrified to hear such a brutal question propounded to her
in the coolest and most business-like manner.
"What do you mean?" asked she, indignantly.
"Mean jist wot I says! No time to fool round, nuther," was the
answer.
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